Ding Jie never expected that the moment he gave Xu Ziyan the card, several million would be spent!
He was an illegitimate son who had only been acknowledged two years ago. He didn’t have many assets, and the usable funds were even fewer. Hiring people for performances, bribing people to get things done, maintaining face in various social settings—everything required money. His money had important uses, and yet Xu Ziyan just spent it on eating, drinking, and having fun?!
Ding Jie immediately found an excuse to step outside and make a phone call.
Xu Ziyan was eating a small cake in a coffee shop. As soon as the call connected, Ding Jie’s gentle tone carried a hint of sarcasm. “Did you lose the card I gave you yesterday? A lot of things were charged to it today.”
Xu Ziyan smiled slightly. “A lot? Not really. I just went for a casual stroll. They’re all things I’ll need for work. My own money is tied up in investments, and I can’t very well ask the family for money, so your card came in handy. You’re not reluctant to part with this little bit of money, are you?
Oh, come to think of it, you were the one who suggested I work at the Fu Corporation. Having you reimburse me is only right.”
“It’s not that I’m reluctant. It’s just that other areas also require significant funds. Things like luxury cars and massage chairs aren’t strictly necessary for work.” Ding Jie took a deep breath, not even knowing what to say anymore.
When exactly did the communication between him and Xu Ziyan start going wrong? It was always like talking to a brick wall, and he always ended up getting tangled in her words.
He tried to understand Xu Ziyan’s actions. Everything started when he asked Xu Ziyan to scheme against the Fu family. So, was Xu Ziyan thinking that since she had done so much for him, she deserved compensation from him? Since he wasn’t giving her the title of girlfriend, she would take money instead?
That was the only way he could make sense of it. Otherwise, he couldn’t understand why Xu Ziyan was treating him this way. She obviously liked him a lot, didn’t she?
He heard Xu Ziyan’s surprised voice. “My original car cost nine million. The new car I bought today was only seven million—I specifically saved you money. If my original supercar wasn’t too flashy and unsuitable for work, I wouldn’t have switched to a more low-key one. You can’t expect me to downgrade, right?
At home, I always have servants to take care of me. At the company, I’m uncomfortable everywhere, so of course I need a massage chair. Oh, and I plan to bring coffee and small cakes to the executive office too. It’s my first day; I should show some goodwill to make things easier later.
Also, right after I joined the company, I called Lin Xiaoyun to my side and let her spend time with my eldest brother. My brother was so pleased he even gave her a bonus! I’ve been working wholeheartedly for you, and you actually question me over a little money?”
All of Ding Jie’s arguments were blocked. His head buzzed. He truly couldn’t get through to Xu Ziyan about anything anymore. But at least she was still helping him.
Ding Jie changed his tune. “Actually, I was worried you were unhappy and venting by shopping, so I called to check. If that’s not the case, then it’s fine. I have a meeting to attend. If you see anything you need, just buy it.”
He hung up as soon as he finished speaking, not wanting to hear any more of Xu Ziyan’s nonsensical chatter. A figure suddenly flashed through his mind—the girl who had helped him before, Bai Qingqing.
If it were her, she definitely wouldn’t be as spoiled, willful, and inexplicable as Xu Ziyan. She would definitely be considerate and thoughtful of him.
Ding Jie wearily rotated his neck and returned to the conference room. Under Father Ding’s dissatisfied gaze, he took his seat and continued the meeting. Soon, he received several more spending notifications. Xu Ziyan had bought a large pile of food and several bottles of wine and champagne costing tens of thousands per bottle.
He blocked the notification alerts. Out of sight, out of mind. He would just treat this money as a commission fee for Xu Ziyan.
On Xu Ziyan’s end, 001 announced: 【Congratulations, Host. Mission completed: Demand a commission from Ding Jie. Obtained 1 skill point. Added to Host’s Luck attribute!】
Hearing 001’s cheerful voice, she curved her lips into a smile. See? She’d found another loophole.
In the original plot, later on when they had a falling out, the original host, heartbroken, questioned Ding Jie and blurted out that even if he was hiring her to do things, he should pay her a commission! Lin Xiaoyun, Li Dong, and those people all got commissions, but she got nothing. Wasn’t that just emotional manipulation?
In the end, Ding Jie actually gave her some money, calling it a commission, which infuriated the original host.
Now, although the situation was different, Xu Ziyan had Ding Jie reimburse her. Since Ding Jie interpreted it as her demanding a commission, didn’t that mean she completed the mission ahead of schedule?
Xu Ziyan was a bit excited. 『If this continues, my plotline with Ding Jie will be finished soon. But there’s still the part where I slap Bai Qingqing, make her lose her job, and then get killed on the roadside by someone Ding Jie hired… Ugh, no, no, no.』
Xu Ziyan got goosebumps. She shook her head, tossing those thoughts aside. She went to a restaurant, packed up a few signature dishes, and returned to the office to have lunch with her Domineering CEO brother.
Fu Qixuan pointed at the massage chair, snack cabinet, and other items now arranged on her side. “You bought all this? I had someone set it up for you. See if it’s okay.”
Xu Ziyan lay down on the massage chair to test it. Comfortable, she squinted her eyes. “It’s good. Very good.”
『Cheap Older Brother is so easy to talk to today? He didn’t even scold me for getting all this miscellaneous stuff and even helped me set it up. Has the sun risen from the west? Did falling in love mess up his brain?』
Fu Qixuan’s face darkened. Whose brain was messed up? Who was in love? Was there a problem with him being a little nicer to her?
『But whatever. A big brother who transfers money is a good big brother!』
Xu Ziyan scurried over again, eagerly opening the food containers with a smile. “Big Brother, they say the food from this place is really good. Eat it while it’s hot. Work is important, but your stomach is more important.”
Hearing this, Fu Qixuan remembered something. “Among the things you bought, there was also medicine? Are you feeling unwell?”
Xu Ziyan shook her head. “That’s office essentials! Stomach medicine, painkillers, liver-soothing and qi-regulating pills, stimulants, anti-heatstroke medicine, and so on. All must be kept ready in the desk drawer. What if one day you feel unwell, the clinic is empty, and it delays work? Having it right at hand is most convenient.”
Xu Ziyan finished speaking out of habit, quickly ate a few mouthfuls of rice, and then paused. 『001, I don’t think I need to prepare these. If I feel unwell, I can just say the word and go to the hospital, or go home to rest anytime. I’m not a corporate drone anymore. Look, the boss doesn’t keep these. If something happens, he just calls his assistant.
Also, I don’t need to rush through meals anymore. I can eat anytime now, slowly or outside. I don’t need to hurry back to work. I really haven’t shaken off the workhorse mindset.』
Fu Qixuan was also taken aback. He remembered what his family had told him: Xu Ziyan, in her previous life, died from overwork. She had struggled alone, saved money to buy a house, and was about to get a promotion before she died. It meant Xu Ziyan was the type of employee bosses loved the most—the smartest and most hardworking.
It’s just that the ending wasn’t good. She enjoyed nothing and was even brought here to play the vicious supporting female character.
Thinking this, the Xu Ziyan before him was much more pitiful than Lin Xiaoyun. And seriously considering it, ever since this Xu Ziyan arrived, she had been helping the Fu family.
Fu Qixuan didn’t realize he had already come to believe in “transmigration” and “inner thoughts.” He picked up a piece of chicken drumstick meat and placed it in Xu Ziyan’s bowl. “You considered it very thoroughly. In the future, the company clinic can hire a few more people, on a rotating shift system, so employees can go for consultations and get medicine 24 hours a day.”
Xu Ziyan’s smile became much more genuine. “Thank you, Big Brother.”
She thanked him for his improved attitude and for empathizing with workers, willing to give employees a little more welfare. She had a sudden idea. “How about letting me be in charge of improving company benefits? I’ll communicate with the employees, understand everyone’s needs, and make work more convenient and comfortable for them, increasing efficiency. How’s that?”
Fu Qixuan nodded. “Okay. I’ll pick two people to assist you this afternoon. Any requirements for them?”
“One meter eighty-five, handsome, good figure.” Xu Ziyan blurted out.
Fu Qixuan’s expression cracked a little. “What did you say?”
Xu Ziyan grinned. “Since the people you pick are all elites anyway, might as well pick a handsome elite. Pleasant to look at, puts you in a good mood.”
『Two great joys in life: greed for wealth and lust for beauty. Your Assistant Lin is quite pretty too, isn’t she?』
Fu Qixuan was a bit speechless, but he still nodded, only warning Xu Ziyan, “Keep public and private matters separate. Don’t create any office ambiguity that leads people to misunderstand that the Fu Family Second Miss is engaging in casting couch practices. Understand?”
“Understood, understood.” Xu Ziyan nodded repeatedly. 『The boss is really talkative today. We’re eating. So naggy. Didn’t peg him as a Male ‘Mommy’ type.』
The Domineering CEO brother, newly bestowed with a title, finally shut up.
Right after finishing the meal, Xu Ziyan received a call from Ding Yao. Now, the two of them could barely be considered partners. Ding Yao was handling matters related to the entertainment company and needed to discuss some things with Xu Ziyan, so he called her directly instead of going through Yang Anni.
His mood seemed both resentful and excited, hesitant and wanting to speak. He asked Xu Ziyan where she was.
Xu Ziyan said, “I’m at the Fu Corporation Building, at work. If you have something, come find me at Fu Corporation.”
“Huh? Work?” Ding Yao was flabbergasted. “You couldn’t even be bothered to look at the decoration plans for our company, and you actually went to work?”
“What’s so strange about that? I haven’t even graduated from university yet; I need to intern at a company. My eldest brother is personally mentoring me, right in the executive office. Just give my name at the front desk, and I’ll have someone bring you up.” Xu Ziyan arranged everything neatly and efficiently. She had just thought of a few welfare measures and wanted to draft a proposal. She didn’t want to waste time on the phone.
Fu Qixuan asked after she hung up, “You’re quite familiar with Ding Yao?”
“Familiar. His girlfriend is my best friend right now. We invested together to make movies and TV shows for Anni and even opened an entertainment company.” Xu Ziyan added, “Of course, they do all the work. I’m the investing boss.”
『Don’t think I’m working outside but slacking off in my own family’s company.』
Fu Qixuan hadn’t thought that. He just felt he had missed a lot during this business trip. The original Xu Ziyan was ambiguously involved with Ding Jie, helping him harm the Fu family. Now, the new Xu Ziyan was actually on good terms with Ding Yao.
From what he understood, Ding Jie had currently used underhanded means to kick Ding Yao out of the company, clearly competing for the heir position. Yet Ding Yao was cooperating with Xu Ziyan. Given this relationship, he could alter his plans for dealing with the Ding family.
They were both major corporations. Fighting to the death would definitely be exhausting and damaging. But helping to change the person in power within the Ding family offered much greater flexibility. If the Ding family could fall into Ding Yao’s hands, the long-standing feud between the Fu and Ding families could be resolved. If they joined forces in the future, they could even take the company to greater heights.
A preliminary plan gradually took shape in Fu Qixuan’s mind. He just needed to wait for Ding Yao to arrive for a detailed discussion.
Standing at the foot of the Fu Corporation Building, Ding Yao still felt like he was having a mental breakdown. Had he really come to the rival family’s company?